Description
Product Description
Read the modern classic about a young witch and her clever cat that started it all! Nostalgic fans of the Hiyao Miyazaki film, Kiki's Delivery Service and newcomers alike will love this exciting new translation of the beloved fantasy story.
"This new translation is perfect." --School Library Journal
Half-witch Kiki never runs from a challenge. So when her thirteenth birthday arrives, she's eager to follow a witch's tradition: choose a new town to call home for one year.
Brimming with confidence, Kiki flies to the seaside village of Koriko and expects that her powers will easily bring happiness to the townspeople. But gaining the trust of the locals is trickier than she expected. With her faithful, wise-cracking black cat, Jiji, by her side, Kiki forges new friendships and builds her inner strength, ultimately realizing that magic can be found in even the most ordinary places.
Blending fantasy with the charm of everyday life, this enchanting new translation will inspire both new readers and dedicated fans.
Review
A Junior Library Guild Selection
"A gentle story of magic-tinged independence." —The Wall Street Journal
"A fantastical story of a charming witch. . . . [that] offers a glimpse into a few aspects of Japanese culture.... This new translation is perfect." —School Library Journal
"Descriptive and whimsical, and both characters’ names and their appearances in Onoda’s anime-inflected illustrations create a Japanese-inspired fantasy world. The characters’ quirkiness creates the feeling that Kiki’s future will be filled with countless friends and adventures . . . An enchanting, gently humorous all-ages family read-aloud.” —Kirkus Reviews
"Kadono's endearing, encouraging novel memorably shows that though the new can be scary, it can also be wonderful and make one a better person." —Booklist
About the Author
Eiko Kadono has published nearly two hundred original works and received many accolades, including but not limited to the Hans Christian Andersen Award and a place on the IBBY Honor List for Kiki's Delivery Service. She lives in the Kanagawa prefecture of Japan.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The Beginning of the Story
Once, there was a little town sandwiched between a deep forest and gentle grassy hills. The town was built on an easy southward slope, its roofs the color of dark slices of toast all in a row. Clustered in the center of town, near the train station, were the town hall, the police station, the fire station, and the school. It was a normal town, one you could find anywhere.
But if you paid close attention, you’d find things you wouldn’t usually see.
For instance, silver bells hung from the tops of tall trees. Even when it wasn’t storming, these bells sometimes made a racket with their ringing. Then the townspeople would turn to each other and smile, saying, “Little Kiki must have gotten caught again.”
But how could someone so “little” ring the bells in the treetops? Well, if you looked to the east and peeked into Kiki’s home, you’d find the answer.
On a gate pillar facing the road hung a sign that read sneeze medicine, right next to a big green gate that sat wide open. Beyond the gate was a large garden, and a single-story house. The garden grew herbs in neat rows with broad leaves and pointy leaves--all different kinds--and a pungent scent filled the area. The smell continued into the house and was strongest around the copper pot in the kitchen. From there you’d have a perfect view of the front living room wall. Instead of paintings or family photographs as you’d expect, two brooms made of bundled branches hung there, a big one and a little one. And from the living room you could hear the family’s voices as they gathered for tea.
“Kiki, when are you planning to leave?” said a woman’s voice, full of disapproval. “I think it’s about time you let us know. You can’t keep putting it off like this.”
“That again?” A girl spoke now, somewhat annoyed. “Don’